2021 application period for changes in the DRG system announced by SwissDRG

On February 15, 2022, the preliminary version of the DRG manual for 2022 was published in France. Introduced changes (new DRGs, change of DRG logic) concern surgical procedures on the breast, interventions for malignant skin tumors, interventions of excision and grafting on the skin and subcutaneous tissue, spondyloplasties.

On February 15, 2022, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) announced the start of the submission period for the applications for new procedure codes and IVD tests to be included in the 2023 HAS working program. Furthermore, a new platform for dossier submission is launched.

Since 2019, several low-cost and simple procedures in Belgium have been reimbursed not via individual INAMI fees but APR-DRG groups. This funding system is called “Low Variability Care”. On January 26, 2022, the list of APR-DRG groups and corresponding reimbursement amounts for 2022 was published.

Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) has issued a draft release of the DRG package for 2023, including a new procedure code for intermittent pneumatic compression therapy, a new diagnosis code for guidance in early pregnancy after a fertility program, and several new DRGs for pediatric palliative care, lymphovenous anastomosis surgery and light therapy in inflammatory dermatoses.

On December 20, 2021, the tariff partners of the novel TARDOC reimbursement system for outpatient care (association of health insurers curafutura and association of physicians, FMH) re-submitted the substantially revised version 1.3 of TARDOC to the Federal Council. The tariff partners hope that the Federal Council will assess the new reimbursement system in the first quarter of 2022 and that it could be implemented from January 2023.